If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

It does slightly remind me of a pyramid scheme where, at the bottom, you start working for very little as a DM/instructor (maybe shop discounts or near token payments for courses etc), then as you work up the ladder (IE/IDC) you get bigger rewards. If it wan't for the people on the bottom rungs getting very little though, there would be virtually no money in the entire thing.

I was basing the MLM scheme comment on the need to train a certain number of lesser qualifications to achieve the higher qualification e.g. a Master Instructor needs to have issued 150 certifications of which at least 50 at Adventure Diver or higher, including 15 specialty divers, 5 rescue divers, 5 divemasters and 5 assistant instructors.

Is it any wonder there are fewer new divers to replace the farts!
Do we need a new training organization? Or do one of the big three need to step up and make some changes?

There are some GUE Classes scheduled in the UK (for example, I'm running a fundies class at Capernwray 25 to 28th October) but there appears to be a big in the search system. So many thanks for finding that, and I've passed it onto our IT guys to fix.

Struth, there's somewhat of a step up in training there! Shirley there's a Fundies course scheduled. Obviously can't do cave training in the UK as there's so few UK locations to dive backmount.

Originally Posted by johnkendall

There are some GUE Classes scheduled in the UK (for example, I'm running a fundies class at Capernwray 25 to 28th October) but there appears to be a big in the search system. So many thanks for finding that, and I've passed it onto our IT guys to fix.

That explains it! Thanks John, also worth pointing out that until today I had no idea GUE did beginners courses, looks like it's a common misconception.
Fundies is on my to-do list at some point (probably after Advanced diver), I'm following the kit config for it anyway.

Anyway sorry for the digression... I think we were talking about a news article?

Drop me a mail John "at" GUE.com and we can start a chat about fundies. I'll do my best to dispel any fallacies

Thanks
John

Originally Posted by ManualOverride

That explains it! Thanks John, also worth pointing out that until today I had no idea GUE did beginners courses, looks like it's a common misconception.
Fundies is on my to-do list at some point (probably after Advanced diver), I'm following the kit config for it anyway.

Anyway sorry for the digression... I think we were talking about a news article?

+1 for this - its knocking off the experience dives that take the time in my experience but generally you can pick them off in normal diving

The rescue stuff is a bit of a logistical challenge but maybe running a PRM course would make that easier too - simply by attracting more bodies to spread the load - I never considered that

That was the longest road block when I did my DL. It was mainly just having to get people together to do it. It's a bit of an request asking people to give up a day for one or two people to do the rescue stuff.

In the end we did it on day we were blown out diving when at Plymouth for a week, and got everyone on the trip involved as a refresher. This worked out well as it ment we had a club rib to use as well.

If you can work it into a day on a trip as a contingency if the weather looks rubbish it's an alternative to not doing much.

If we hadn't done it then I'd have booked o to a regional prm course to get it done.

It’s odd that people are finding that there aren’t new people coming through because at our club we are growing. We are getting new divers in and can see that we are going to struggle to have enough instructors - we aim to have one per trainee for the wet stuff and do group lectures.

The time taken to get through the courses is inversely proportional to the effort the trainee takes so we have had people race through them and get in lots of diving along the way whilst others have taken a more relaxed approach. Others have a life outside diving so even though committed are unable to get in the hours in the water that they would wish. Even further along the scale are the likes of me who is just one item short of completing Dive Leader, and has been for some time, having started the DL course some 12 years ago - I wish I was joking

Is it something critical to diving, or just some bit of bureaucratic guff?

Is there a point that those that dive, dive. I do so hope the other part of that expression isn't applicable.... Those that can, do, those that can't, teach.

It depends.
There are a few instructors out there who do fook all other than instruct. There are other instructors out there who do shit loads of big dives at a high level and do a bit of instructing as well. And everything in between.